Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone call with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Tuesday. According to a statement from the Qatari Foreign Ministry, the call addressed regional developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Qatari Foreign Minister Al Thani stressed that all parties must adhere to dialogue and diplomacy. Al Thani stated that it is essential to implement the memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran on June 18, particularly regarding ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Reiterating that Qatar fully supports all efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement that would ensure lasting peace in the region, Al Thani pointed to the importance of de-escalation efforts.
This diplomatic contact came after a statement by US President Donald Trump on Sunday. Trump had said, "Iran and other countries in the Middle East have asked for time to complete an agreement that will lead to the immediate, full and comprehensive reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the elimination of the Iranian nuclear threat."
On Friday, the US President had stated that Washington would carry out "very harsh attacks" on Iran until it says it cannot tolerate it. It was also announced that Washington had postponed attack plans against Iran at the request of many countries.
Iranian media, however, reported on Sunday that reports of an agreement with Washington on the opening of the Strait of Hormuz were "not true."
The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28. Tehran announced that more than 3,000 people were killed in these attacks, while Iran also announced that US and Israeli soldiers were killed in retaliatory strikes.
Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 and began negotiations toward a final agreement. However, a dispute arose over ensuring freedom of navigation and security in the Strait of Hormuz, which is of strategic importance for energy supply and trade.
The US carried out attacks on Iran between July 8 and 24, and Iran in response announced that it had attacked US military facilities and equipment, particularly in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.
